Sen. John Proos applauds Gov. Snyder on reinventing Michigan

LANSING, Mich. — After listening to the governor’s 2017 State of the State address Tuesday night, Sen. John Proos, R-St. Joseph, issued the following statement:

“I applaud the governor for outlining a plan of action that builds on our achievements of creating a stronger Michigan, while also recognizing that we still have work to do.

“Michigan needs a smarter government that is more cost effective and accountable and that is focused on achieving real, measurable results for Michigan residents. With positive leadership and proactive policies, we have re-energized our state economy. As a result, Michigan has added jobs every year and gone from billion-dollar deficits to multi-million-dollar surpluses. We need to continue that positive momentum.

“I look forward to working with the governor to improve our deteriorating infrastructure, keep our communities safe and continue to increase the state’s investment in education.

“Our Secure Cities program is an example of an effort that is working to reduce crime in our communities. I will continue to lead the way in modernizing our criminal justice system so it keeps the safety of the public as its top priority, reduces costs to taxpayers and results in better outcomes for prisoners — so they can eventually be successfully reintroduced back into society.

“I have long championed science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education as a way to give everyone an opportunity for success and help us meet the skilled workforce needs of a growing economy. As a member of the state’s MiSTEM Advisory Council, I will help create a comprehensive STEM education plan that ensures every Michigan student has access to an education that meets their needs.

“I agree that an invasion of Asian carp into the Great Lakes would forever change the way of life along Lake Michigan — and Southwest Michigan would be one of the first areas affected. Simply put, the battle against Asian carp is one we cannot afford to lose. The environmental and economic impact of Asian carp if these fish get into the Great Lakes would be nothing short of catastrophic.”